WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, led by John Fetterman (D-PA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and John Cornyn (R-TX), is urging the Social Security Administration (SSA) to reevaluate its policy on retroactive spousal benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA).
The SSFA, coauthored by Senator Collins and supported by Senators Fetterman, Cassidy, and Cornyn, aims to restore earned Social Security benefits to millions of public employees and their spouses by repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. A provision of the law includes retroactive payments to January 2024 for eligible beneficiaries.
However, concerns have arisen about how retroactivity is being applied. According to the Senators, constituents have reported being misinformed by SSA employees in the past, leading them to believe they were ineligible for spousal benefits. These individuals, who were once told not to file applications, are now being limited to receiving a maximum of six months’ retroactive payments from their most recent SSA contact date, despite the law’s directive for benefits to be retroactive to 2024.
The Senators have formally requested the SSA to review this policy. “We ask SSA to review the agency’s policy and grant maximum retroactivity payments to all spouses who were protected on prior applications and wrongly advised by employees of SSA not to apply for spousal benefits when they first inquired,” they stated in their letter to Acting Administrator Leland Dudek.
The issue highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring that beneficiaries receive full and fair compensation under the law. By urging policy adjustments, the Senators aim to address the gaps in implementation and secure justice for affected spouses.
This latest push is part of a broader effort by lawmakers to ensure that Social Security policies are both equitable and aligned with the intent of Congress. Further communications from SSA on this matter are expected as the review process unfolds.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.